Low maintenance gardening is a very popular topic here at the greenhouses. There are many of us who want either an entirely low maintenance garden, or portions of it that are low maintenance. Gardening can become time consuming, and overwhelming without any maintenance plan. We want the beauty of a luscious garden without all the fuss. Low maintenance plants are just a small part of making that happen.
High maintenance gardens typically involve a lot of weeding, pruning, watering, fertilizing, dead heading, and seasonal planting. Some popular plants that require little to no maintenance include: Salvia, Coreopsis, Sedum, Rosemary, Thyme, Ceratostigma Plumbago, and Delosperma. They all require little if any dead heading, fertilizing maybe once a year, less water than most plants once established, and no replanting. Many plants, including those mentioned, look stunning when planted in masses. If you have the space for it, plant 5 or more of each plant in clustered formation. Make sure to plant them next to something that complements the plants and/or the space it’s in. For example; plant next to other plants with a completely different color or texture, or plant next to something like a rock wall or wooden fence which can also add a nice contrast. The low maintenance plants listed also help cover the space in your garden to prevent weeds from growing; however the most effective control of weeds is to add something like mulch or bark in your beds. You’ll most likely need to reapply bark or mulch every 3-4 years to keep a nice layer on the soil.
Join us next month for a class on Fall Gardening September 6th at 10:00am. I’ll be going over great options for fall planting. Seating is limited call us at 541-482-2866 to reserve your spot today.
